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Nashville Vacations | Adventures by Disney | Disney Parks With the Adventures by Disney Nashville Vaction you will be immersed in the country music capital. Discover the roots of country music at the Grand Ole Opry, visit former U.S. president Andrew...From:Disney ParksViews:221ratingsTime:02:17More inTravel & Events View the full article

A performing arts magnet program in east Orange County, a high school world languages magnet and a zoneless school for gifted students are among Orange County school board members' priorities. And each inched closer to reality Tuesday night. View the full article

If you are willing to a pay a toll, you soon may be able to legally drive a little faster in parts of Metro Orlando. View the full article

Crews are finishing work on Artegon Marketplace on International Drive — a 1.1 million square foot shopping center devoted largely to crafters, artists and small retailers that's scheduled to open next month. View the full article

Nothing makes me more proud to be a Disneyland Resort cast member than seeing the positive impact we make in the community, which is why I am excited to invite you to support this year’s CHOC Walk! Bright and early on October 12, nearly 15,000 “CHOC Walkers” from throughout the world, including children, family, friends, nurses and doctors who have been impacted by Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children’s), will line Main Street, U.S.A., for the start of the 2014 CHOC “Walk in the Park,” presented by Disneyland Resort. The 5K pediatric walk will take walkers through Disneyland park, Disney California Adventure park and Downtown Disney District – before opening to the public. Last year, the event raised $2.1 million, and since its inception in 1990, has raised more than $22 million. The Walt Disney Company has a long history of supporting CHOC Children’s, beginning in the early 1960s when Walt Disney helped advocate for a children’s hospital in Orange County, Calif. This relationship has continued to grow, including a $5 million donation from the Disneyland Resort in 2012. As part of that gift, Walt Disney Imagineering brought the world of “Finding Nemo” to life in the CHOC Children’s second-floor lobby with an experience that includes the interactive “Turtle Talk with Crush” show – just like the one in Disney California Adventure park – a mural and 180-foot-wide mobile! Even if you can’t attend the event in person, you may register as a “Sleeping Bear” and donate through October 31. To register to walk, visit www.chocwalk.org. Registration closes at 3 p.m. PDT on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014. Raise Funds and Spirits for CHOC Children’s During 24th Annual CHOC Walk at the Disneyland Resort by Melanie Vogel: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

To call “Sleeping Beauty” a classic is certainly an understatement. With its extraordinary story and unforgettable characters, it’s thrilled generations of filmgoers. Of course, at Disney Parks, it inspired the Imagineers to build our very first castle at Disneyland park. And it continues to inspire magic in our parks to this day, including many elements of our brand new, “Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade” at Magic Kingdom Park. So, we’re excited that a brand new Bonus Feature, “Once Upon a Parade”, all about the creation of “Festival of Fantasy”, is making its debut on the Diamond Edition Blu-Ray of “Sleeping Beauty” today! (It’s available in Digital HD, too.) Some of my favorite projects here have been collaborating on other Bonus Features for titles such as “The Jungle Book” and “The Little Mermaid.” So, we were so excited to again have the opportunity to work with our friends at the Walt Disney Studios. It’s a behind-the-scenes look, of course. But, this time, the filmmakers are showing you a whole different kind of magic – something you’ve never seen before! Who better to create a Disney Parade than the citizens of Fantasyland themselves – and this film will show you how they did it! As you know, we love to give you a little “backstage” look at our filmmaking process – so, here goes: This film utilized two tons of hay, plus smoke, thunder, lightning effects, half a ton of feathers, a snow machine … and every frame of it was shot inside Magic Kingdom Park. “Once Upon a Parade” stars the amazing Sarah Hyland from ABC’s “Modern Family”, and we had a fantastic time working on the project. I’m not certain I know a bigger fan of the Disney Parks than Sarah – she might know more Disney trivia than any of us! Check out the video, where Sarah talks about the project, her passion for all things Disney … and even gives you a sneak peek at the Bonus Feature, too! “Sleeping Beauty” releases today, for the first Time on Diamond Edition Blu-ray and Digital HD. Go get your copy! ‘Once Upon a Parade’ – Bonus Feature – ‘Sleeping Beauty’ by Tony Shepherd: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Sarah Hyland from ABC's 'Modern Family' comes to you from Walt Disney World to talk about her bonus content in 'Sleeping Beauty - Diamond Edition.' Hyland also remembers her favorite Disney...From:Disney ParksViews:5184148ratingsTime:01:38More inTravel & Events

If you are one of the thousands of runners training for an event at the 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, and asking yourself, “why am I doing this?” Well I have an answer to that question. It’s all about the bling and today runDisney is excited to reveal all the finishers medals for the event weekend. From the runDisney Kids’ Races and Mickey Mile, to the Dopey Challenge medal, I hope you will agree these finisher medals are amazing and worth all the training miles you are logging. As most runDisney fans know, this January we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge. Runners participate in the half marathon on Saturday and the marathon on Sunday, 39.3 miles over 2-days. Once they cross the finish line of the marathon, they not only receive a marathon medal, but they also earn the commemorative anniversary Goofy medal. This one of a kind medal features a spinning Goofy in the middle and clearly commemorates the 10th anniversary. Up for the challenge? Registration remains open for the Goofy Challenge. Now, for runners out there not wanting to take on Goofy but still wanting to join in on the fun in January, I am happy to tell you it’s not too late. Currently a limited number of marathon registrations remain open as part of the Goofy Giveback, a unique opportunity that re-opened marathon registration for 39 days, representing the number of miles covered in the Goofy Challenge. Your chance to take part in the marathon is scheduled to close on October 24th, or until the race reaches capacity. If you are interested in registering for the Goofy Challenge or the Walt Disney World Marathon, visit runDisney.com. I hope you like the medals and I look forward to seeing you at the finish line showing off your bling. Bling! Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Medals Revealed by Robert Hitchcock: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

It appears that Norway’s next door neighbor (well, in World Showcase, that is!) is offering a tribute to Maelstrom, which carried riders on a “High Seas Norwegian Adventure” for the last time earlier this week (the attraction was closed to make way for a Frozen-inspired refurb). The Mexico Pavilion’s La Cava del Tequila is serving Maelstrom Margaritas to honor the beloved attraction. Maelstrom The Maelstrom Margarita features “Premium Ambhar Tequila blanco, mango puree, orange liquor, and agave nectar served with blueberries, habanero peppers, basil and Tajin chili powder on the rim.” ©cavadeltequila The drink debuted on October 6th for La Cava’s “Margarita Monday,” and while we assume this drink will only be available for a very limited time, according to La Cava’s Twitter feed: “Maelstrom Margarita will be available until you stop buying it, so it all depends on you. Made in honor of the ride.” So, if you find yourself in the Mexico Pavilion today while tasting your way around the World, stop by La Cava to raise a glass… and to remember that Norway’s spirit has always been — will always be — ADVENTURE! Would you like to try a Maelstrom Margarita? Please let us know with a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: News! La Cava del Tequila’s Margarita Mondays…and moreCoffee Margarita Now Available at Cava del Tequila in EpcotReader Recipe: La Cava del Tequila Avocado Margarita View the full article

Under the seasoned auspices of the multitalented, Tara Anderson, Senior Director at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Creative Entertainment, ghosts waltz, spirits become more spirited, villains strut their stuff and happy haunts materialize — all on the otherwise chipper, cheery Main Street, U.S.A. Even if you’ve never met Tara (and she’s super nice), countless Magic Kingdom Park guests (perhaps including you) have cheered the artistry of Tara, along with the creative team, singers, dancers, characters and villains that make Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade one of the all-time most popular features of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Tara sat down (something she rarely gets a chance to do) and told us about her boo-tiful baby. GREG: You know this parade backwards and forwards, the way Queen Elsa knows advanced refrigeration. What is the “story” that unfolds as we watch the parade? TARA: The story of the parade is that Mickey and his Magic Kingdom friends are having a series of parties. So, the first scene is Mickey’s own party. It kind of represents Main Street, U.S.A. because he, Minnie, Donald and Daisy are in a quaint gazebo. He’s invited friends like Snow White, Dopey, Pinocchio, Gepetto, Alice, the Mad Hatter, Aladdin, Jasmine and Pooh. And Pluto has a new costume this year — an adorable lion! Then the parade takes us to Adventureland, where it’s pirates, pirates, pirates! This year, we put Peter Pan and Wendy and some Lost Boys on the pirate ship. It’s my homage to the scene in the film where the pirates have them trapped and Peter comes to the rescue Of course, we have Captain Jack Sparrow, Barbossa and some crewmembers. That’s our Adventureland salute. GREG: What songs do we hear during this sequence? TARA: You’ll hear “Boo To You,” written specifically for the parade. It’s so catchy, we find ourselves still singing this tune to ourselves six months into the next year! There’s no question that every parade really starts with the music. For Hook’s ship, we have “Yo-Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” from Pirates of the Caribbean and “A Pirate’s Life is a Wonderful Life” from Peter Pan. The next sequence is Liberty Square and Haunted Mansion. It begins with the Groundskeeper and his dog, Jolene. GREG: Dolly Parton’s “Jolene?” TARA: (laughs) Oh no, not at all! Our Jolene is actually a rescue dog, which is why none of the craziness going on ever phases her. The gravediggers — known as the Deadly Dozen — and our graveyard float follow Jolene and the Groundskeeper. This year, we doubled the number of dead waltzers. GREG: I love the dead waltzers. So light on their feet! TARA: Then, of course, the Hitchhiking Ghosts come along and the Grim Grinning Ghosts. GREG: And those gravedigger shovels that spark. Is that a special effect? TARA: Actually, that was a happy accident. We were backstage one night, just walking around a building and somebody was dragging a shovel and it sparked. It was like “Ooooohhh!” and we made it part of the show. GREG: It’s such a simple thing! Everyone loves the shovels. TARA: To represent Frontierland, we have a Halloween Hoedown. This year, our cowgirls have new costumes. We decided to give everybody cowboy boots and denim and just rock it out a little bit. The music there is mostly “Ghost Riders in the Sky” with a little bit of “Rodeo” thrown in. Clara Cluck sits up in her barn while Clarabelle Cow calls out the square dance for Chip ‘n Dale, Brer Bear, Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit and the Country Bears — Big Al, Wendell and Liver Lips. GREG: And as everybody knows, a party is never quite the same without Liver Lips. TARA: Isn’t that the truth! (laughs) From here, we change things up in the parade a little bit. Our Goofy’s Candy Company truck got an extreme makeover and it’s a new Sugar Rush delivery truck full of candy corn. Wreck-It Ralph rides the truck and Vanellope runs around, being Vanellope. The truck looks like it’s made out of candy. Really cute. Goofy’s Candy Factory is after the Sugar Rush truck. GREG: Then lots of villains bring up the rear. TARA: They get to be the grand finale. They’re singing “It’s Good To Be Bad” around a float carrying the Dead Head Band, and behind there’s the Queen of Hearts, Frollo, Big Bad Wolf and others. They’re on a villain float with Chernabog; we have Maleficent, Jafar and the wicked queen from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” New this year is the Bowler Hat Guy from “Meet the Robinsons” and he’s very, very funny! GREG: How many months in advance do you start preparing this parade? TARA: After the current parade has its run, we have a post-parade meeting to discuss successes and opportunities for improvement. Then around February, we talk about the event as a whole and determine what we might want to do in the coming year. If we’re going to revamp a float or create new costumes, they need the longest lead times. This year we started rehearsals at the beginning of August because we opened the party on September 1. GREG: How does this parade rate on the “Tara Meter”? TARA: On the “Tara Meter”? I don’t know — I’m not supposed to have favorites among my children! It is certainly one of my favorites. It’s just one of those things where everything came together just right. Yes, we tweak it every year. I love that it has that sort of flexibility to add and take away, but the core is so solid, you can do that. GREG: It’s sort of like a great Broadway show. It might be revived dozens of times, but there are always alterations, the score changes, the chemistry of the cast varies and scenes are moved around. It’s always fresh. TARA: Absolutely. And we do that. We want it to be fresh for our new guests and our many returning guests — and we’re grateful that there are so many. We want them to see the things that they’ll remember and want to see again and also be thrilled by new things. That’s why “Boo-to-You” is forever new! Sights & Sounds of Disney Parks: An Inside Peek at Mickey’s ‘Boo-to-You’ Halloween Parade at Magic Kingdom Park by Greg Ehrbar: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Actor Alfonso Ribeiro took a break from dance rehearsals to bring his family to Disneyland park to experience a little Halloween Time magic last week. Minnie Mouse stopped by to wish him luck in his pursuit of the mirrorball trophy as a season 19 contender on “Dancing with the Stars.” It is even rumored that Minnie and Alfonso were seen doing a few steps from “The Carlton!” ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Contender Alfonso Ribeiro Celebrates Halloween Time at Disneyland Park by George Savvas: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

If you've ever been to a University of Central Florida football game, you've seen the fans that come out to cheer on the Knights. View the full article

Halloween on the High Seas voyages with Disney Cruise Line are jam packed with fun for the whole family. And the best part is all of it is included in your cruise fare! Grab your costume and...From:Disney ParksViews:1621120ratingsTime:02:27More inTravel & Events

If you have read some of my previous Disney Parks Blog articles, you will know that I am a super fan of EPCOT Center. I first visited the theme park in 1983 and fell in love with the vision for the 21st Century. Today, Epcot is the place where I spend most of my time as a guest visiting Disney Parks (especially with the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in full swing). It may come as no surprise then that I’m beyond happy to see some new retro-inspired EPCOT Center merchandise now arriving at Walt Disney World Resort. Created by Disney Design Group, this new artwork is an update to the previous retro artwork introduced in 2012 for the 30th Anniversary of Epcot. You’ll notice that the artists were inspired by some of the simple graphics that were used in the early days of EPCOT Center. The artwork will be featured on some T-shirts, a baseball cap and a D-Tech on Demand case for the iPhone 5/5S (there are no immediate plans for a D-Tech on Demand case for the iPhone 6 using this artwork). There are also some long-sleeved options including a sweatshirt that reminds me of something I had in the 1980s! My favorite item, however, is the key chain that includes artwork from some classic EPCOT Center attractions. The best place to look for these items is at Mouse Gear in Future World at Epcot. Hooray for the 21st Century! Retro EPCOT Center Merchandise Coming to Walt Disney World Resort This Month by Steven Miller: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Disney cruisers are no strangers to showing their Disney Side out at sea (arrgh mateys!) And this fall, Pirate Night isn’t the only excuse you have to put on a costume, let loose and bring out the fun in your family during vacation. Our Halloween on the High Seas voyages are jam packed with fun for the whole family (Mom and Dad … that means you, too!) And the best part? All of it is included in your cruise fare! In this video, hear from Cruise Director Christiaan about the fun you and your family can expect when celebrating Halloween on a Disney cruise. Celebrating Halloween on a Disney Cruise by Jonathan Frontado: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Tucked back in the corner of Critter Country, The Hungry Bear Restaurant is often overlooked. This quiet counter service restaurant is rarely crowded, has plenty of shaded seating with a gorgeous view of the Rivers of America, AND the food here is great too! Another bonus? They’re currently serving up the most delicious item at the Disneyland Resort. Hungry Bear Order Kiosks The Caramel Apple Funnel Cake is making its grand debut this year for Halloween Time — and I need it to go away soon because otherwise I will be way too tempted to eat one on each and every visit to Disneyland. Caramel Apple Funnel Cake from Hungry Bear Made fresh to order, a Caramel Apple Funnel Cake will set you back $6.49, or a little less if you use your annual passholder discount. The sizing is enormous. Unless your sweet tooth is craving a huge splurge, it’s plenty to share with 3 or maybe even 4 people. Caramel Apple Funnel Cake Signage The actual funnel cake was not at all greasy. It was topped powdered sugar and caramel drizzle with a generous scoop of perfectly cubed granny smith apples. I was expecting the apples to be like apple pie filling, but they were not at all “mushy” like typical store bought apple pie filling. They tasted fresh and had a bit of crispness to them. Not actually crunchy like taking a bite out of an apple, but definitely more dense than apple pie filling. It was also not overly sugary tasting. It’s how I’d imagine taking a bite out of a freshly dipped warm gooey caramel apple would be. And then there’s the homemade whipped cream. Light and fluffy, it’s hand piped onto the top into a perfect not so hidden Mickey shape. Caramel Apple Funnel Cake Close Up Kind of a bizarre combo, we also ordered the Mango Habanero Lime Iced Tea to accompany our funnel cake. The drink is mixture of lemonade and iced tea infused with a lime mango habanero flavoring. It comes garnished with maraschino cherries, a lemon and a glow cube to boot! To our surprise, the drink was quite tasty. Sweet and not too spicy, it’s sort of an Arnold Palmer with a kick. If you’re feeling adventurous or enjoy sweet and spicy combos, go for it! Caramel Apple Funnel Cake with Mango Habanero Lime Iced Tea I say treat your taste buds. The Caramel Apple Funnel Cake is heaven in your mouth. This is by far my favorite Halloween Time treat! Do you have a favorite Halloween Time treat at the Disneyland Resort? Have you tried the Caramel Apple Funnel Cake yet? What did you think? Heather Sievers is the Disney Food Blog’s Dining in Disneyland columnist. See more of her columns here! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: Dining in Disneyland: New Mickey Sour Powder Caramel Apple and Goofy Caramel AppleDining in Disneyland: The Hungry Bear Re-Opens with a New MenuGourmet Apple of the Month: Banana Split Caramel Apple Debuts in Disneyland View the full article

TAVARES — For hours, Lake County teachers, parents and students hurled complaints at the School Board during a Monday-night meeting that drew such a crowd that it violated the fire code of the room where it was held. View the full article

The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to decide once and for all whether states can ban gay marriage, a surprising move that will allow gay men and women to get married in five additional states, with more likely to follow quickly. View the full article

GAINESVILLE — The University of Florida football team's hero from Saturday's victory at Tennessee has been suspended following allegations he sexually assault a female student on campus early Sunday morning. View the full article

Facing a sunlit office window on Sand Lake Road, the man who brought Trader Joe's to Orlando carefully eyes the half-built 450-foot-tall observation wheel he's having constructed on International Drive. View the full article

Race after runDisney race I am constantly amazed by the creativity our runners show when selecting their costumes for event weekends. However, when it comes to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend, everyone seems to kick it up a notch. From the Disney Happy Haunted 5K Trail Run and runDisney Kids Races on Saturday morning, to the featured 10-Miler Saturday night, runners of all ages came prepared to show their Halloween inspired Disney Side. GalleryRunners Show Their Disney Side at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend view allCongratulations to the more than 15,500 registered runners who participated in all the runDisney events this past weekend. A special acknowledgement goes out to Marc Burget from Jacksonville, FL, and Lynn Baione from Jensen Beach, FL, our male and female champions. It was an exciting weekend for everyone and I hope you will take a moment to enjoy the following recap video. And if after watching the video you feel inspired to join in on the fun at a future runDisney event weekend, visit runDisney.com for details on upcoming races. Runners Show Their Disney Side at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend by Robert Hitchcock: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Sometimes, good detective work and weeks of investigation are needed to nab suspected criminals. But other times all investigators need is 30 minutes to listen in on an accidental pocket dial to a 911 dispatch center. View the full article

John Morgan, his brother Tim Morgan and campaigners for Amendment 2, medical marijuana, started a bus tour of rallies and townhall discussions in Central Florida Monday with a rally at the University of Central Florida and a forum in Winter Park. View the full article

Q: Is Central Florida prepared for a possible Ebola outbreak? View the full article

Looking for a new place to chill out? Check out the newly transformed Anna & Elsa’s Boutique, now open in the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort. There has been a slight change to the age limit; I’m excited to announce that guests ages 3–15 can show their Disney Side with transformations inspired by some of your favorite “Frozen” characters. Our Crystalizers (stylists) will help you look your Arendelle best, from hair and makeup to wardrobe options that will generate plenty of warm hugs! Click here for a few details on what each package has to offer as well as a few things to know before you go. GalleryAnna & Elsa’s Boutique Opens in Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort view allAre you already cool enough? Anna & Elsa’s Boutique will also offer an array of “Frozen”-inspired merchandise worth melting for, including apparel, toys, dolls and more. So remain icy calm, “Frozen” fans, and visit today! Anna & Elsa’s Boutique Opens in Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort by Michelle Harker: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article